Eric Favre Indian Ocean bodybuilding, fitness and physique championship |22 November 2016

Honed physique earns

Mekdachi the crown

 It is amazing to see how discipline and dedication can sculpt the human body to the point that one

gets a physique that not only match that of the opponents but betters the field of competition.

On Saturday night at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS), Seychellois Ziad Al Adou Mekdachi delivered a promise he made to Seychelles and his loyal fans as he won the Eric Favre Indian Ocean bodybuilding, fitness and physique championship on home soil.

It was his first big win in front of his fans and the fact that he had promised to win the title days before the contest shows just how confident he was in his preparation – one that requires unimaginable commitment.

Little wonder then that Mekdachi was applauded when his name was called out as the winner and he immediately dropped to his knees with hands raised as he looked to the sky as though he was thanking God Almighty for guiding him to another victory.

Known for his honed physique which must surely have satisfied the eight-member jury including French strongman and bodybuilder Morgan Aste as well as IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding) Miss Bikini professional Nathalie Mur, Mekdachi told the local media that 2016 has been an unbelievable year for him although Saturday’s contest was not as tough as he was expecting but nonetheless he was well prepared for anything that could be thrown his way.

He described Saturday’s win as a dream come true after only stepping on stage past midnight for his routine in a competition which started just after 8pm.

“I’ve competed in international competitions away from home on many occasions. But I just can’t describe the feeling of winning in front of my fans…I feel proud. The supporters were great and they cheered us on all along,” said Mekdachi who along with counterpart Mervin Dugasse hoisted Seychelles Bodybuilding Federation chairman and coach Regis Delorié for putting together a great show and for doing a great job in preparing his athletes.
Mekdachi added: “I started the year with a bronze medal in the 95kg weight category at the inaugural Arnold Classic African Amateur Bodybuilding competition (at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa) and then won the Mr Seychelles title for a fifth consecutive time. For me it has been a perfect season.”

As overall winner Mekdachi has won a plane ticket and lodging paid for so as to represent Seychelles and the Indian Ocean in one of the three Eric Favre Sports Games in France, Guadeloupe and Canada in 2017.

Dugasse was in fact one of Mekdachi’s two challengers for the overall title along with 45-year-old Kamlesh Lochun, a two-time and reigning Mr Mauritius.

Although it was not officially announced, Sports NATION learned that Dugasse, who also won the -95kg class, took the overall runner-up spot head of -65kg category winner Lochun.

The overall winner in the men’s physique is Reunionais Ludovic Lavenaire, while compatriot Manuella Payet took the Miss Bikini title.

Youth and sports principal secretary Fabian Palmyre, National Sports Council chief executive Giovanna Rousseau, Frenchman Eric Favre were among the guests inside the venue which went wild each time a Seychellois was called to the stage, but in the end only three of them – Mekdachi (+95kg category and overall), Dugasse (-95kg) and Joe Gabriel (Masters +40 years old) – triumphed in a field of 59 athletes.

Other than Seychelles’ four individual time, Mauritius claimed five, Reunion took eight, Rodrigues one and France one.

Altogether, 59 female and male flex posers from host country Seychelles, Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues,  Madagascar and France flexed their muscles on stage in the following categories: Junior (Under 21 years); Senior -65kg, -70kg, -75kg, -80kg, -85kg, -90kg, -95kg and +95kg; Masters: +40 years, +50 years and +60 years;  Bikini: -1.63m and +1.63m; Men’s Physique: 1.78m, - 1.78m and + 1.78m.

A total cash prize of €5,000 was on offer.

Speaking to Sports NATION, Mr Favre praised the local organising team for “putting on a great show” adding that “the competition was of a very good level with a very good turnout”.

French strongman and bodybuilder Aste echoed Mr Favre, adding that “there were some really good flex posers on stage tonight”.

The results:

Bodybuilding Master +40 years old: 1st Jose Gabriel (Seychelles), 2nd Raj Hurry (Mauritius), 3rd Kursley Poudret (Mauritius)

Bodybuilding Master +50 years old: 1st Marlo Prosper (Mauritius), 2nd Joelen Valentin (Seychelles), 3rd Pierre Servina (Seychelles)

Bodybuilding Master +60 years old: 1st Flore Robinsing (Rodrigues), 2nd Ludovic Jean (Mauritius)

Bodybuilding Junior: 1st Risley Coopoosamy (Mauritius), 2nd Ahmad Moncherry (Seychelles), 3rd Ameer Afif (Seychelles), 4th Kevin Domingue (Seychelles), 5th Terry Moncherry (Seychelles)

Men’s physique -1.78m: 1st Menu Geoffray (France), 2nd Richard Gilbert (Reunion), 3rd Samuel Moothen (Mauritius), 4th Wallace Dorasamy (Seychelles)

Men’s physique +1.78m: 1st Ludovic Lavenaire (Reunion), 2nd Alain Rosalie (Seychelles), 3rd Andrew Nicoire (Seychelles), 4th Andrew Athanase (Seychelles), 5th Miguel Didie (Mauritius), 6th Ludovic Begue (Rodrigues)

Women’s body fitness: 1st Bénédicte Begue (Reunion), 2nd Brigitte Folio (Reunion)

Miss Bikini -1.63m: 1st Natasya Rosicourt (Mauritius), 2nd Anabelle Faufron (Reunion), 3rd Rosette Pillay (Seychelles), 4th Ella Nirina (Madagascar), 5th Jade Siméon (Seychelles)

Miss Bikini +1.63m: 1st Manuella Payet (Reunion), 2nd Patricia Lebreux (Mauritius), 3rd Marie Caroline Perine (Rodrigues), 4th Melissa Pinchon (Seychelles), 5th Ariana Memee (Seychelles)

Men’s bodybuilding classic: 1st Jordan Baillif (Reunion), 2nd Huldric Dangol (Reunion), 3rd Sylvestre Larose (Rodrigues)

Men’s senior bodybuilding -65kg: 1st Kamlesh Lochun (Mauritius), 2nd Eddy Begue (Rodrigues), 3rd Hyacinth Ratsiandavana Mahandry (Madagascar)

Men’s senior bodybuilding -70kg: 1st Gerard Gilbert (Mauritius), 2nd Wendy Azize Jean (Rodrigues)

Men’s senior bodybuilding -75kg: 1st Elois Malouet (Reunion), 2nd Andy Anthony (Seychelles), 3rd Espana Flore (Rodrigues), 4th Ian Rose (Seychelles)

Men’s senior bodybuilding -80kg: 1st Laurent Gonthier (Reunion), 2nd Mario Randriaantsilaviba (Madagascar), 3rd Joseph Warren Raffaut (Rodriqgues), 4th Garry Jean (Mauritius)

Men’s senior bodybuilding -85kg: 1st Jeremie Genave (Mauritius), 2nd Razafinantoanina Njaranirina Miandrisoak Maholy (Madagascar)

Men’s senior bodybuilding -90kg: 1st Christopher Empeigne (Mauritius)

Men’s senior bodybuilding -95kg: 1st Mervin Dugasse (Seychelles), 2nd Joseph Andriantsiavina (Madagascar), 3rd Dominic Hung Chan Sang (Rodrigues)

Men’s senior bodybuilding +95kg: 1st Ziad Al Adou Mekdachi (Seychelles), 2nd Darish Bhurton (Mauritius)

Men’s senior bodybuilding overall: 1st Ziad Al Adou Mekdachi (Seychelles)

Men’s physique overall: 1st Ludovic Lavenaire (Reunion)

Miss Bikini overall: 1st Manuella Payet (Reunion)

G. G.